2015 Favorites in Beauty

Here’s is my favorite beauty and skincare products from 2015. Not all of these came out in 2015 I’m sure but they were products I consistently reached for throughout the year. It’s gonna be a long post so grab a snack and settle in.

Skincare.

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser and Biore Charcoal Pore Minimizer

I’ve been loving the trend of activated charcoal products. I tried a few brands throughout the year but the Biore range is the one I kept coming back to. Their products are gentle yet effective. I’ve actually seen improvement in my pores and the black head situation with all the irritation of Salicylic Acid which wrecks havoc on my skin because of my rosacea.

The Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser is my daily face wash, it has a nice smooth thick texture and refreshing menthol. I really like using the cleanser with this Konjac Cleansing Sponge from Juliep. My skin has never felt so smooth and clean. Blackheads and texture are always going to be my challenge but its situation has improved greatly with these products. They’re also quite affordable and available at the drugstore.

2 or 3 times a week I use the Charcoal Pore Minimizer to smooth and exfoliate as well.

Algenist Sublime Defense Anti-Aging Blurring Moisturizer SPF 30

I’ve used a number of moisturizers in the past year but my hands down favorite facial moisturizer in 2015 has been The Algenist Sublime Defense Anti-Aging Blurring Moisturizer SPF 30. This stuff. It’s pricey but worth it? Quite possibly. I’ve never come across a product quite like it. The closest thing I can compare it to would be a primer with SPF 30, however, you’re average primer doesn’t tend to contain skincare as well. This stuff is kind of magical if you ask me. I’m looking forward to trying out more products from Algenist in the coming year. I’m going to have a full review of this coming soon.

Primers!

The NYX Honey Dew Me Up, I picked this up on a whim purely because it looked cool, had gold flecks and was made with honey. I didn’t expect much but it actually does something pretty nice for my skin. It leaves it feeling hydrated and healthy. It has a gel-like formula with soaks into your skin and leaves it feeling very slightly tacky. I feel like my foundation just wears better when I use it. This is one of those products that fall somewhere between a primer and skincare. Though it is somewhat more expensive for an NYX product, it’s worth and you can always catch a sale at Ulta.

Is it just me or have NYX’s prices gone up a bit with the new products they have released?

Revlon Photo Ready Perfecting Primer

The Revlon Photoready primer came into play later in 2015 thanks to a recommendation from a fellow beauty blogger and I’ve been loving it since I picked it up, such a lovely texture.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primerelf Mineral Face Primer

These next two primers are somewhat interchangeable if you ask me. The elf Mineral Face Primer and The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. In my opinion, they are virtually the same product. They have the same silicone texture on the skin which leaves it smooth and silky feeling. They look exactly the same, both being a thick clear gel. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you the difference at the end of the day aside from the price. They both do exactly what they claim to me and work great.

Again, it’s a smack down between elf and Smashbox in this category too for me. However, these two products aren’t quite as interchangeable. While I reach for the elf Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer on a daily basis because on an average day it gets the job done, I prefer the Smashbox for the special occasions when I want my shadow to look last like nobodies business. My shadow doesn’t budge with the Smashbox 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer, and it leaves a nice smooth texture that’s not at all drying like some primers I have tried this year.

Concealer, Foundation and Setting Powder

NYX Dark Circle Concealer

I can’t say I’m amazed by the NYX Dark Circle Concealer, however, I have consistently used it throughout the year on days when my undereye has needed a little help. The fact that I have grabbed for it so much makes me want to include it on my list. It must be doing something I like. LOL.

I also like to use it as a spot concealer on blemishes. Does great on that because of it’s thick texture.

My Foundation and concealer holy grails this year, as I’ve mentioned before are Nars All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation in conjunction with Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and the Light Reflecting Pressed Powder. These 3 are my ride or die perfect skin for hours on end combination.

Another powder I loved this year was the elf HD Powder. I have the radiant or brightening formula and the original kind that’s matte white. I reached for both of these quite a bit throughout the year, especially the radiant one.

Sorry about the containers being such a mess. They are well loved. lol.

Moving on to some more luxurious finishing powders, hands down my favorite are the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. Worth the hype, yes. They are magical.

Brows on Fleek!

No surprise here, my brow products of the year are definitely the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe, the NYX Micro Brow in Taupe and Ash Brown, and the NYX Brow Mascara. These are the products to transform your brows. I can’t say enough good things.

Blushing Cheeks

Again, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes have been a favorite. They are just stunning.

Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore

Not far behind are the Milani Baked Blushes. A great drugstore alternative to the Hourglass Blushes and absolutely beautiful colors and finish. I used the hell out of Berry Amore this year.

Tarte 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Memorable

You can’t talk about blushes without mentioning Tarte’s 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blushes. Wonderful Staying Power and a wide array of shades and finishes. I reached for mine quite a bit this year for sure.

Still my favorite highlighters of the whole year where the elf Baked Highlighter. I tried others throughout the year but these remained my faves.

Hourglass Light Powder in Iridescent Light

If I was in the mood a more subtle highlight (yeah right) I went for the Hourglass Lighting Powder in Iridescent Light. Not quite as strong as the elf ones and more refined.

Eyeshadows

Kat Von D Shade+Light Eye Contour Palette

The Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette has been the backbone of just about all my looks this year. It’s such a great palette to always have on hand. I know it looks kinda of boring, matte neutral shades but it’s far more versatile and handy to have than I ever thought it would be. You can create dramatic looks to simple everyday looks. I’ll have a full review soon.

Urban Decay Naked 2

Another palette I reached for a lot this year was the Naked 2. I used it on myself and clients alike quite a bit for creating dramatic evening looks. It’s another great palette to have on hand. It leans a bit on the cool side but still has shades that will work for multiple skin tones and is versatile as well.

Mascara

The Lancome Hypnose Drama is a mascara I reached for so much this year. It has such a nice formula and wand. I love it so much. I need to go through more of my mascaras so I can get another one of these without feeling guilty. lol.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

My other go to on the reg was the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara. This one is my go-to for every day.

L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar mascara

On the occasions, I wanted all the lashy drama I used the L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar Mascara. It brings all the oomph and drama one could want from a mascara and it’s affordably being from the drugstore.

Eye Liner

I used a ton of different liners during 2015 but none were really anything to write home about.

That being said I really loved this trio from Tarte because the shades were unique and the formula is really nice. I have yet to come across a smoky purple liner and gray quite like these. I have the urge to repurchase them already just so I can have backups.

Lippies

Milani Lipstick in Rose Femme

Milani Lipsticks, especially the shade Rose Femme. It’s lovely light mauve shade. I remember using it a lot during the spring and summer. On a whole, this is a great line of lipstick and a pretty good price as well. I purchased most my Milani stuff at Super 1 which is a grocery store here in the southern states. Some reason they have a better selection of Milani then our drugstore do.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Archangel

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Archangel was my go-to red for the later part of the year. I love the texture and shade. It’s so long lasting and matte as with all of the Studded Kiss Lipsticks in the line.

I have to say, Kat Von D was one of the most consistently great brands in 2015. I cannot wait to see what she has for us this year.

Kardashian Beauty Honey Stick in Black Berry

I know this one isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I really love the Honey Stick lip gloss from Kardashian Beauty in the shade Black Berry Honey. I’m a sucker for a deep purple lip gloss for one and the pair it with honey and bee stuff I’m sold!

MAC Nose For StyleMAC Auburn Lip Liner

Back to my go to red lipsticks, another one would have to be Nose for Style from the MAC Haute Dog Collection. It’s a deep but very wearable red. I loved it for the fall paired with the Auburn Lip Liner from MAC as well. It was what I wore on my wedding day in fact.

MAC Viva Glam IINars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

A couple more nudes I loved last year were Viva Glam II from MAC and Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. I think 2015 was the first year I really embraced the nude lip and I’m so glad I did.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Vampira

And finally, for lips this year, I used the hell out of Vampira from the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick range. Love it.

Beauty Tools

Real Techniques and Sonja Kasuk won me over for value and quality you can’t do much better. I’m still building up my collection with these two brands almost exclusively.

And lastly, my number 1 favorite fragrance of 2015 was by far Honey By Marc Jacobs and will probably be my favorite until I get my hands on Guerlain’s Mon Precieux Nectar. One day it will be mine. LOL.

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Anna Bankester, author of Bee Beauty is a 30 something, freelance Makeup Artist, and Beauty Blogger in Louisiana with a Southern Gothic flair. She has a background in fine arts and writing but her true passion is makeup and coffee.... and bees

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8 thoughts on “2015 Favorites in Beauty”

I’ve been obsessing over the wet n wild contour palette as well! I can’t believe the quality it’s just amazing for drugstore don’t you think ?!:) towards the end of the year I discovered the smashbox primer and I looooove it!! I agree it gives such a flawless finish and doesn’t leave the eye area dry at all! I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered this product before. I also have rocasea so I might give that biore product a try 🙂 really enjoyed reading your beauty faves:)

Wow so many amazing products! Im obsessed with Kat Von D! I’ve been meaning to try the elf HD powder for quite a while now, I don’t really use finishing powders so think ik definitely gonna buy this. Oh and the nyx primer! Thanks for sharing all these products! My bank account is definitely not gonna be happy though haha xx